Twice nine per cent rise

For the first quarter of the 2002/2003 financial year (February to April) Vendex KBB increased net sales in its DIY division by 8.9 per cent to € 195 mio. Not taken into account here is the sales revenue of the Belgian Brico chain, which Vendex is planning to take over. Brico is to be included from April onward, provided that approval is obtained from the competition authorities. This month saw the Belgians record sales of around € 30 mio. According to information from Vendex, sales figures increased by nine per cent in the first quarter.